Newslines 30 March

Author/Source: Robin Roberts

30th March 2018

A year before Brexit kicks in, it is essential that both industry and government do all they can to secure new model production in Britain, said the SMMT.

Thousands of jobs depend on a good deal for the auto sector, it said, as new figures from the Production Outlook, predict there will be modest fall in UK vehicle production to 1.729 million in 2018 and 1.713 million in 2019 before production could climb to over 1.8 million by 2023.

PSA CEO Carlos Tavares wants Europe develop a major site for manufacturing the next generation of EV batteries.

He has warned against letting Asian countries lead the manufacturing for “strategic interests” and has joined the EC in seeking a joint venture among car makers and chemical groups in Europe to supply the powertrains which will be increasingly needed as petrol and diesel engines diminish.

After the mysterious crash and death of an autonomous Tesla X car driver and pedestrian hit by an Uber research Volvo XC40, there are now calls for greater prudence in pursuing the new self-driving cars.

Engineers are examining both vehicles to discover what went wrong and Volvo Chairman Li Shufu said progress must be cautious or risks destroying the development.

The Road Haulage Association is dismayed by Transport Minister Jesse Norman’s announcement that in less than twelve months’ time, the majority of haulage operators will have to pay an additional 20% towards the HGV Road User Levy.

In February 2019, an estimated 56% of UK-registered Euro V trucks (and earlier) will be hit with the rise while, at the same time, the levy for Euro VI vehicles will reduce by 10%.